SXSW Reveal First Wave Of Bands For 2014 Music Festival In Austin

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 15: Crowds of festival music fans on 6th Street during Day 4 of SXSW 2013 Music Festival on March 15, 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Andy Sheppard/Redferns via Getty Images)

Following the announcement that "Girls" creator-star Lena Dunham would be among the keynote speakers in the film portion of the 2014 SXSW festival and conference in Austin, Texas, and that Grantland's Bill Simmons and beloved statistician Nate Silver will highlight the newly added SXSports segment, organizers unveiled the first wave of bands booked for South-by-Southwest’s 28th annual music fest.

Though the big names tend to be held back until closer to the ten-day March event, they did reveal that among the 2000 acts we can expect alt-rock icons Urge Overkill alongside Brooklyn punks The Men, UK indie-pop star Eliza Doolittle and standout Canadians like Montreal DJ/producer Kaytranada, Vancouver pop-rockers Hey Ocean! and Winnipeg pop experimentalists Royal Canoe. As well, Cracker frontman David Lowery will presumably continue his campaign against music-streaming services.

Considering the recent music trade mission that brought Toronto mayor Rob Ford to Austin to sign a "Music City Alliance," one can hope that there may be something special involving Toronto acts, as well.

Last year's festival was the biggest and most diverse SXSW yet, with performances and speakers ranging from Prince, Dave Grohl and Justin Timberlake to space entrepreneur Elon Musk and almost-president Al Gore to cult-pop icon Joss Whedon and everywhere-man James Franco to news personalities like MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and hero-mayor Corey Booker.